Document Library

An overview of programs and accomplishments from Fiscal Year 2023.

An overview of programs and accomplishments from Fiscal Year 2024.

In Illinois, due to the change in federal law, starting on February 1, 2026, there will now be a limit on how much SNAP you can receive unless you are meeting the SNAP work requirements. If you do not meet the SNAP work requirements, you are limited to only 3 months of SNAP in a 36-month period. After using those 3 months, the only way you can receive benefits again is by meeting the work requirements for a least a month or if you’re exempt.

Click the link above to read more about these changes.

Survivors of Gender-Based violence can have difficulty accessing housing due to poor credit as a result of economic abuse. This flyer will define economic abuse and help people navigate the US credit card system.    

This flyer informs survivors of Gender-Based violence about common ways landlords provoke evictions and people’s rights as renters. 

The Network advocates for housing by hosting trainings, providing technical support, and organizing data. The Network’s survivor-led approach makes housing more accessible to marginalized communities.  

This flyer documents various forms of housing discrimination such as refusing to repair damages and the unfair rejection of housing applications.

This flyer teaches renters how to end their lease under Illinois’s Safe Homes Act.  

This flyer depicts scenarios of sexual harassment in housing and provides recommendations for people in those situations.  

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in Illinois established housing protections for survivors of Gender-Based violence. This pamphlet provides an overview of what VAWA does.  

This flyer describes to survivors of Gender-Based violence how The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is enforced.  

This report covers 2025 data from the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, including needs among Hotline contacts and expansion of the Hotline to support more survivors.

This volume of Measuring Safety explores The Network’s Survivor Fund, including its impact and needs analysis.

This volume of Measuring Safety focuses specifically on the provision of domestic violence and sexual assault services across Illinois. The goal of each report is to learn from survivors and providers about the nature of violence, the gaps in services and systems, and the steps needed to repair harm as well as prevent further violence. The insights provided in this report serve as a blueprint for public and private stakeholders to invest in services, programs, policies, and systems
change that increase safety for survivors.

This report covers 2024 data from the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, including needs among Hotline contacts and expansion of the Hotline to support more survivors.

The report begins with an overview of trends in criminal justice data relating to the prevalence and severity of domestic violence. It is followed by an analysis of service provision to survivors, examining the characteristics of those requesting service and the state’s ability to meet the need. This section highlights what services survivors are seeking the most. Next, the report provides a brief glimpse into public health data relating to domestic violence accompanied by a discussion of the importance of this data and how to better obtain it. The report then discusses areas for future research followed by out recommendations to better address domestic violence in the state of Illinois.

Guided by client interviews and information from service providers who see a majority of immigrant clients, this report highlights the challenges faced by immigrant survivors, including Language barriers, fear of interference with immigration case, lack of employment opportunities, financial needs, need for legal services, fear of law enforcement, cultural misunderstandings, and DCFS involvement.

Survivors of gender-based violence seek help from a variety of community-based and/or systemic supports. This report analyzes survivors’ interactions with each of these systems, highlighting areas where systems need improvement to effectively support survivors.

This report analyzes survivors’ interactions with key systems across the state, highlighting areas where they need improvement to effectively support survivors.

This report is the first in a series that focuses specifically on survivor use of an essential resource operated by The Network, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline.

This report is the second in a series that focuses specifically on survivor use of an essential resource operated by The Network, the Survivor Fund.

This special report is the third in a series that focuses specifically on survivor experiences with gun violence in Illinois.

This volume is the fourth in a series of 2023 data reports and focuses specifically on the provision of domestic violence and sexual assault services across Illinois.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Survivor Transportation Pilot Program is a state-mandated project designed to improve access to transportation for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

As part of state legislation that passed in the Spring o f 2023, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence (The Network) received 25,000 preloaded Ventra cards of $20 value which were distributed to domestic violence and sexual assault service providers throughout the RTA jurisdiction for survivor use.

From November 2023 to October 2024, the Pilot Program distributed 16,668 Ventra cards to survivors of gender-based violence, primarily parenting survivors of color with little to no income.

This report has three primary goals for readers:

1) It serves as an essential reminder that progress is possible. Illinois has and will continue to change for the better because survivors and advocates show up to make their voices heard. Advocacy on Karina’s Bill, now Karina’s Law, serves as an example of community organizing’s power.

2) It is intended to serve as a tool for leaders of gender-based violence nonprofit organizations to identify key changes to Illinois law that impact survivors and services. This includes 30 laws passed during the 103rd General Assembly that fall into five categories:

1. Court System
2. Criminalized Survivors Relief
3. Survivor Rights and Resources
4. Healthcare System
5. Prevention Education

3) It provides the voting record for 10 priority bills among all Illinois Representatives and Senators. The goal of uplifting this voting record on key survivor legislation is to provide our community with a tool to inform their conversations with elected officials and underscore the importance of engaging in advocacy and civic action on policies involving gender-based violence.

Geared towards advocates and direct service providers.

The Domestic Violence Co-Location Program is an Illinois program that supports survivors of Gender-Based violence affected by the child welfare system. This report is a cumulation of their data from 2024.  

This guide is designed for Pro Se Petitioners to have more information about safety planning and considerations under Karina’s Law.

This guide is designed for Pro Se Petitioners to have more information about safety planning and considerations under Karina’s Law.

Funding gender-based violence services in Cook County remain critical to maintain as survivor
needs increase: Last year, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline received 30,010 contacts
from Cook County residents – a 22% increase from 2023. Since 2023, the County has provided
$5.2M in funding for gender-based violence services through ARPA funds that are set to expire.
But the County Board has the power to continue funding these services and sustain programs.

We’re asking for an increase in funds from $5.2M to $9.6M to better meet survivor needs for
legal support, crisis intervention, housing, counseling and more.

As the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds end in FY25, this gap places survivors of gender-based violence without the services they rely on for safety. In FY25, ARPA dollars made up $5.6M of the total $21.3M budget for gender-based violence services. But the Mayor and City Council have the power to ensure survivors’ needs remain a priority.

We’re asking for largely level funding from FY25 to FY26: $22.3 million, with recommended revenue options to cover $5.6M from ARPA, and a small increase in housing programs to accommodate survivors impacted by recent federal changes. The top needs from Network members: cash assistance via the Survivor Fund, legal aid, counseling, advocacy and housing.

This document describes the political positions of the 2022 Illinois Gubernatorial candidates. The Network highlights the candidates’ thoughts on Gender-Based violence, reproductive rights, and criminal justice reform.   

This document details The Network’s 2023 City Budget request, which advocates for increased funding for survivors of Gender-Based violence.  

This document lists and describes Illinois Senate and House bills The Network has prioritized due to their focus on providing Gender-Based violence community services.  

This document lists and describes the Illinois House and Senate bills The Network is advocating for in 2025.  

This document gives a financial summary of Gender-Based violence community services in Chicago.  

This document helps survivors of Gender-Based violence build firearm safety plans, assesses their level of risk, and provides legal resources

The Domestic Violence Co-Location Program is an Illinois program that supports survivors of Gender-Based violence affected by the child welfare system. This report is a cumulation of their data from 2022.  

The Domestic Violence Co-Location Program is an Illinois program that supports survivors of Gender-Based violence affected by the child welfare system. This report is a cumulation of their data from 2023. 

This document details The Network’s 2025 City Budget request, which advocates for a 2% increase in the Illinois Homeshare tax. The tax money would be used to increase housing availability and strengthen the Survivors Fund.   

This handout describes HB676, a proposed expansion to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA).  

This is a Chicago Housing Authority report documenting the effects of subsidized housing programs on survivors of Gender-Based violence.  

The following report summarizes the key activities and lessons learned from a 15-month planning grant from the Crown Family Philanthropies and Michael Reese Health Trust, awarded to The Network and Metropolitan Family Services to explore how to improve responses to intersectional survivors of Gender-Based violence. 

The Karina’s Bill (HB4469/SB2633) requires firearm removal in the case of a firearm remedy being granted in an order of protection. This document describes Karina’s Bill in detail.    

The issue brief from November 2011 in the series “Parenting and Domestic Violence” is a project created by The Network to highlight experiences of adult and child survivors and persons who cause harm within the three primary systemic legal responses to child-involved domestic violence. 

The issue brief from September 2021 in the series “Parenting and Domestic Violence” is a project created by The Network to highlight experiences of adult and child survivors and persons who cause harm within the three primary systemic legal responses to child-involved domestic violence.

This handout describes the protections for survivors of Gender-Based violence in the Pretrial Fairness Act specifically regarding safety and economic access.  

This report is a breakdown of how the Pretrial Fairness Act affects survivors of Gender-Based violence. The bond system is explained, and personal stories are highlighted.  

This report demonstrates how supervised visitation and safe exchange programs meet the critical safety needs of survivors, people causing harm, and their children. In doing so, it demands increased investment in these programs to enable local organizations to expand services and better serve their communities. 

This report summaries the Illinois legislative actions pertaining to Gender-based violence in 2022, and the fiscal budget for 2023.  

Today, the Office of the Chief Judge announced the results of its investigation into the death of Lacramioara Beldie, including the reassignment of Judge Thomas Nowinski.

The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence celebrated the passage of Karina’s Bill (HB4144), which passed the Illinois House of Representatives today in a bipartisan 80 to 33 vote after passing the Illinois Senate last night.

Today, Gov. JB Pritzker signed Karina’s Law, legislation that strengthens and clarifies the law regarding the firearm remedy in domestic violence orders of protection.

After another horrific murder, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence calls for Judge Thomas Nowinski to be reassigned from domestic violence cases